In the annals of American television, few voices were as instantly recognizable as Larry King’s. For decades he was the man who asked the questions everyone wanted answered, but behind the suspenders and signature style, his personal life was a mix of triumphs, controversies, and heartbreak.

4 related posts

Net worth: $50 million · Age at death: 87 · Number of marriages: 8 · Children: 5 · Years active: 1957–2021

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • 1933: Born in Brooklyn (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  • 1985: Larry King Live premieres on CNN (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  • 1987: Suffered a major heart attack (Wikipedia) (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  • 2021: Died from COVID-19 complications (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
4What’s next
  • Estate settlement continues amid probate disputes (Nelson Mullins (law firm))
  • Legacy as one of television’s most iconic interviewers endures (Nelson Mullins (law firm))
  • Archived episodes and interviews remain widely viewed (Nelson Mullins (law firm))

Seven key facts about Larry King, one pattern: a life lived in the public eye but fraught with private complications.

Label Value
Full name Lawrence Harvey Zeiger
Born November 19, 1933, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died January 23, 2021, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Talk show host, radio host, author, actor
Spouse(s) 8 marriages (including Shawn Southwick)
Children 5 (including adopted son Chance)
Net worth $50 million (at time of death)

What did Larry King pass away from?

Cause of death details

  • Larry King died on January 23, 2021, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (Atlanta Journal-Constitution (regional newspaper)).
  • His cause of death was sepsis due to COVID-19 (Wikipedia).

Underlying health conditions

  • He had been hospitalized for COVID-19 in December 2020.
  • Prior health issues included heart attacks, lung cancer, and type 2 diabetes (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: King died from sepsis triggered by COVID-19 at age 87 after a long battle with multiple underlying conditions.
Why this matters

King’s death highlighted the vulnerability of older adults with preexisting conditions during the pandemic—a reality that affected millions of families worldwide.

The implication: his death was a direct consequence of the virus, but the stage had been set by decades of health struggles.

Why was Larry King so famous?

Career as a talk show host

  • King began his broadcasting career on WMBM radio in Miami in 1957 (Wikipedia).
  • His national radio show, “The Larry King Show,” launched on the Mutual Broadcasting System in 1978 (Wikipedia).

Larry King Live on CNN

  • Larry King Live premiered on CNN on June 3, 1985 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
  • He was known for his gentle interviewing style, suspenders, and wide range of guests (Wikipedia).

Awards and recognition

  • King won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award (Wikipedia).
  • He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame (Wikipedia).

The pattern: King’s fame was built not on confrontation but on curiosity—a disarmingly simple formula that made everyone from presidents to pop stars feel comfortable.

How much older was Larry King than his wife?

Age difference with Shawn Southwick

Age difference with other spouses

  • King was also significantly older than some previous wives, though exact ages varied.

Impact of age gap on marriage

  • King said the age gap and religious differences took a toll on the marriage (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: a high-profile marriage that survived more than two decades but ultimately fell apart under the weight of fundamental differences.

Did Larry King leave his wife anything in his will?

Details of his will

  • King’s handwritten will divided a reported $2 million probate estate among his five children (Nelson Mullins).
  • His estranged wife Shawn Southwick was not mentioned in the will (Eric Schutzbank (probate attorney)).

Estranged wife Shawn Southwick

  • King and Shawn Southwick had been married since 1997 but he filed for divorce two years before his death (Wagner Sidlofsky LLP).

Fortune of $50 million

  • Estimates of King’s net worth ranged from $50 million to $144 million including nonprobate assets (Nelson Mullins).
  • The will left his entire fortune to his five children, disinheriting Shawn (Eric Schutzbank).
The catch

The handwritten will sparked a probate dispute over its validity, highlighting the risks of do-it-yourself estate planning for high-net-worth individuals.

What this means: King’s final wishes were clear—but the legal battle over their execution is a cautionary tale for anyone with a blended family and substantial assets.

What disease did Larry King get in 1987?

Heart attack in 1987

  • Larry King suffered a major heart attack in 1987 (Wikipedia).
  • He underwent a five-way bypass surgery (Wikipedia).

Subsequent health issues

  • Later in life, King was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and lung cancer (Wikipedia).
  • His health declined significantly in the years before his death.

The paradox: the man who spent decades interviewing the world’s most resilient figures battled his own severe health setbacks, yet kept working until nearly the end.

Timeline: Larry King’s Life and Career

  • : Larry King born in Brooklyn, New York (Wikipedia).
  • : Began broadcasting career on WMBM radio in Miami (Wikipedia).
  • : The Larry King Show launches on Mutual Broadcasting System (Wikipedia).
  • : Larry King Live premieres on CNN (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
  • : Suffers major heart attack; quintuple bypass surgery (Wikipedia).
  • : Larry King Live ends after 25 years (Wikipedia).
  • : Launches Larry King Now on Ora TV (Wikipedia).
  • : Died from sepsis due to COVID-19 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Clarity Check

Confirmed facts

  • Cause of death: sepsis from COVID-19 (Wikipedia).
  • Net worth: $50 million (Wagner Sidlofsky LLP).
  • Number of marriages: 8 (Wagner Sidlofsky LLP).
  • Will excluded estranged wife Shawn Southwick (Eric Schutzbank).
  • Heart attack in 1987 (Wikipedia).

What’s unclear

  • Exact reasons for estrangement between King and Shawn Southwick prior to his death.
  • Whether any legal challenges to the will have been filed (Nelson Mullins).
  • Specific details of his religious practices (though he identified as Jewish).
  • Precise breakdown of his $50 million net worth beyond reported probate estate.
  • Exact nature of his friendship with Donald Trump beyond multiple interviews.

Quotes on Larry King’s Life and Legacy

“The age gap and religious differences took a toll on the marriage.”

— Larry King, as reported by Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)

“He was the face of CNN primetime for 25 years, and his gentle interviewing style made guests feel at ease.”

— Atlanta Journal-Constitution (regional newspaper)

“His handwritten will left everything to his children, disinheriting his estranged wife.”

— Eric Schutzbank (probate attorney)

For fans of King’s work, the lesson is clear: a larger-than-life public persona often masks a complicated private story. His legacy as a broadcaster remains, but the legal and relational tangles he left behind serve as a reminder that even icons face messy realities. For those managing their own estates, the key takeaway is to keep wills updated—especially after divorce.

Additional sources

michaelsonlaw.com, alux.com, youtube.com, wagnersidlofsky.com, instagram.com, youtube.com, pickellawpc.com, news.wttw.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What was Larry King’s real name?

His birth name was Lawrence Harvey Zeiger (Wikipedia).

How did Larry King start his radio career?

He began in 1957 at WMBM radio in Miami, where he worked as a disc jockey and interviewer (Wikipedia).

Did Larry King have any acting roles?

Yes, he made cameo appearances in films including “Shrek 2” and “The Simpsons” (Wikipedia).

What health problems did Larry King have besides COVID-19?

He suffered a major heart attack in 1987, underwent bypass surgery, and later developed type 2 diabetes and lung cancer (Wikipedia).

How many times was Larry King married?

He was married eight times to seven women (Wagner Sidlofsky LLP).

What was Larry King’s relationship with Donald Trump?

King was a longtime friend of Donald Trump and interviewed him many times; he said Trump was a friend but did not endorse his policies (Wikipedia).

Did Larry King have any cameo appearances in movies or TV shows?

Yes, he voiced himself in “The Simpsons” and appeared in “Shrek 2” as the voice of a character (Wikipedia).

Related reading